| Since 1991, we have been the only organization promoting a pro-liberty agenda within the Republican Party. We work hard to help elect principled Republican candidates, from libertarians to constitutional conservatives. 2016 is a pivotal year not only in politics, but for America. We'll let you know which candidates we support, inform you on where your representatives stand on the issues, advocate for liberty legislation, and keep you updated on local happenings. | |  | | Thanks for Joining us at FreedomFest! | | FreedomFest is the largest gathering of libertarians and lovers of the free market. Held annually in Las Vegas, FreedomFest hosts an array of speakers ranging from  Judge Andrew Napolitano to Billionaire Peter Thiel and many more.
This year, the Atlas Society hosted their annual summit in conjunction with FreedomFest. There was panel discussions, debates (in 2015, Paul Krugman squared off with Stephen Moore), educational workshops, the Anthem libertarian film festival and the chance to network with some of the brightest minds in the liberty movement from around the country and world. Thanks for stopping by our new trade booth to say hello and learning more about us! | |  | | RLC of Virginia Chair Clifford Theis: the Liberty Index Returns! | | Since 1989 longtime RLC legend Clifford Theis has compiled the "Liberty Index," an in depth scorecard for all members of Congress. Theis is a Professor of Finance and Economics at Shendendoah University, an author at the Independent Institute and the newly elected Chairman of the RLC of Virginia.
The Liberty Index has three different ratings for members: Personal Liberty, Economic Liberty and an average score of the two which is based upon roll call votes. The Index we're releasing is for the year of 2015 which is half of the 114th Congress. Hold your representatives' feet to the fire with the truth by using the Liberty Index as your go-to congressional scorecard. | | Every four years the Republican National Committee votes to officially nominate a candidate for President; this year will be unforgettable. Though Donald Trump apparently has the amount of pledged delegates necessary to claim the nomination, there is a lot of push back for a #DelegateRevolt.
Regardless of the nomination process, the RNC will be making amendments to the current party platform and host the largest gathering of Republicans in the world. We encourage all of our members to take the trip to Cleveland. Every National Convention is just as important as the next. We'd also like to thank any and all RLC members who are delegates for sacrificing their time and energy for the cause of liberty. | | In the past three months, we've endorsed some of the most principled Republican congresisonal candidates around the country: Walter Jones (N.C.), Justin Amash (Mich.), Rebekah Johansen-Bydlak (Fla.), Dr. Rex Rammell (Wyo.), Rob Maness (La.), and Rand Paul (Ky.) to name a few.
Within the next three months, we will have completed our endorsement process so stay tuned to hear about which candidates we support. We look forward to growing the block of Liberty Republicans in Congress. but we need your help. If you or someone you know is interested in applying to be endorsed by our organization, please fill out our candidate questionnaire and compact and return them via email to info@rlc.org - thank you! | |  | | State Chapter News | | Florida: We've scheduled our semi-annual leadership meeting for Saturday, July 23rd. The meeting will take place in Melbourne at the home of State Chairman Bob White. Participants will include state officers and directors as well as local chapter chairs from around the state. The leadership meeting takes place in the off-years from the state convention and is an opportunity for leadership to meet face-to-face for mid-range and long-range planning and chapter development. We also recently announced our slate of endorsed candidates for the Florida Senate and House of Representatives for 2016.
North Carolina: This past month we elected a new state chairman: Jeffrey Ober. Jeffrey helped co-found and Chair the RLC of Alaska in 2011 along with our current Secretary, Alice Luechet. We'd also like to humbly thank our immediate past Chairman, Bret McGraw, for his years of volunteer service with the RLC and wish him nothing but the best in his all of his endeavors. In other news, RLC North Carolina endorsed Rep. Larry Pittman, sponsored a bill affirming the bill of rights! To often is it overlooked and cast as a suggestion rather than the principles our government must abide by.
Ohio: We will be hosting our biennial State Convention on September 24th. The morning program will include a Keynote speaker from the State of Ohio, a round table discussion with the Ohio House Liberty Caucus, and the presentation: How People Can Effect Liberty in Ohio. The afternoon will consist of our business sessions for officer voting and by-laws review. Tickets for the event will be going on sale soon, so please send us an email with any of your inquiries.
Oklahoma: The Republican Liberty Caucus of Oklahoma has just been formed. Leading the charge is Marven L. Goodman. Marven is a former County Commissioner for Logan County, and Director and Managing Consultant with HP Enterprise Services' Security and Privacy Professional Services Group. He also served with the Department of Defense and retired as Lieutenant Colonel. Marlene Lynch is the Vice-Chairwoman, she is the past secretary of the Logan County GOP, and served as scheduler for Randy Brogdon for U.S. Senate, and his successful race for OK GOP State Chairman. Marlene is currently the Logan County GOP State Committeewoman, and Precinct Chair. Please contact them above for information on how to get involved.
Tennessee: We are extremely excited about the upcoming elections, our own Vice-Chairman, Steve Lane, is running for State Senate in District 14 and our Rutherford County Vice-Chairman is running for Alderman in the City of LaVergne. In the upcoming legislative season, we will be working on Open Records Reform and Occupational Licensing Reform. We are also pleased to announce that our membership is growing, and have recently added the following members: Joe Liggett, Trace Justice, Jeff Rainwater, J.R. Walker III, Michael Fulbright, Chris Latch, Nathan Keeble, Ben Hopper, and Robert Dalton. | |  | | Local Chapter Spotlight | | South Florida: Hera Becker is the new Chairwoman of the recently founded RLC of Broward County and works as a stock trader and film producer based in Weston. At 31 years old, Hera is running against 20 year incumbent and National Committewoman and RNC Co-Chair Sharon Day. She is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University and Nova Southeastern and was an active member of her College Republicans chapter at FAU.
In her spare time, Hera is a devout equestrian and certified #RandGirl. As an organization, we strongly believe that candidates running in primaries not only helps the Republican Party as a whole, but is essential to a functioning democracy. Hera is a shining example of young folks taking the initiative to fight for liberty and we know she'll inspire many more leaders to emerge. | |  | | 2016 Legislative Agenda | | We will be working to pass the following pieces of legislation until the end of the 114th session of Congress. After the current session is over we'll begin a new agenda and a more extensive one fit to last the normal lifespan of a congressional session.
Contact your representatives and ask that they cosponsor the legislation, and contact the committee members who oversee each bill. It's imperative that we voice our support of these bills to our representatives, so contact them as often as you can. Please remember to be courteous .
HR 525: Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2015 HR 24: Federal Reserve Transparency Act (Audit the Fed) HRes 14: Urging the president to release information regarding the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks upon the United States HJR 14: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of terms that a Member of Congress may serve HR 1205: American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2015 (Leave United Nations) SJRes 14: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the U.S. relative to applying laws equally to the citizens of the U.S. and the Federal Government S683: Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States Act of 2015 (Legalizing Marijuana) | |  | | National Board Endorses Rebekah Johansen-Bydlak | | Rebekah Johansen-Bydlak is running for Congress in Florida's 1st Congressional District. So far she's amassed the endorsements from our National Board, Rep. Justin Amash and Dr. Ron Paul - the ultimate liberty hatrick.
At 25 years old, Rebekah is the former Outreach Director for the Coalition to Reduce Spending and Chairwoman for Young Americans for Liberty (Fla.). She is in a crowded primary but is outraising her opponents - we wholeheartedly support her campaign and ask that all of our members to support her too. | |  | | Political Independence | |
By Vermont State Representative Paul Dame
When did we stop celebrating Independence Day? I hope that it's different for other folks, but I know in my short memory as a millennial, my whole life I grew up celebrating "The 4th of July" and very rarely heard it called "Independence Day." It seems like there is certainly a correlation between dropping the "Independence" and the very character of our nation seeming to become increasingly dependent – though it's hard to determine which caused the other.
It's probably fair to say that there has never been a time when so many Americans have relied so heavily on their government to meet their basic needs. That's pretty astonishing in light of the fact that the first American generation, those who declared our independence from Great Britain, did not rely on their government even to protect them from armies composed of men who lived half a world away. They were able to accomplish political Independence because they all lived in a time where most people had to live incredibly self-sufficient, personally independent lives – something completely foreign to the vast majority of Americans today.
Politics is always a downstream derivative of culture.... | |  | | Cato Opinion: U.S. Must Stay Out of the Syrian Civil War | |
By Doug Bandow, Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute
A group of State Department officials recently sent a confidential cable chiding the administration for not adding another war to America's very full agenda. The 51 diplomats called for "targeted military strikes" against the Syrian government and greater support for "moderate" forces fighting the regime.
One of the architects of current policy, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, also has turned against the administration's more disengaged approach. She urged creation of a no fly zone, an act of war, as well as greater support for insurgents.
The conflict is horrid, of course, but no one has explained how U.S. entry... | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment